Friday, October 26, 2012

Black Belt

Funny that Little Man has given me a writing assignment
coinciding with a long dry spell of writing inspiration. Nothing like an almost
9 year old about to become a black belt, kicking my ass into writing shape
(he'll get a kick out seeing the word "ass" here). Perhaps good
enough for a blog post. He'll be the judge and you'll know if you are reading.

The back-story - Little Man, as most of you who know him or of
him, has been doing Tae Kwon Do since he was 5. More than just going you can
say, he's made the place our second home, going an average of 4 times a week
diligently and of his own free will. He's always shown good focus and a need to
perfect form and it shows as he's progressed seamlessly up the belt ladder in
minimum time. Thirteen belts hang on his wall with one remaining as the
ultimate goal within reach in just hours from now. One of the obstacles,
besides the obvious upcoming physical test was having had to write an essay
about what TKD means to him. Not a simple task for a 3rd grader (and maybe
he'll let me post his own words here too). Anyway, maybe influenced by this or
maybe as punishment for this, but our Little Man wishes no gift for his big
achievement, but rather that each one of us (Orit and I) write an essay of our
own. A letter, to him, about how proud we are of him and what it means to us.
Payback by our altruistic little smart-ass (another "ass" to make him
smile) kid, that is willing to give up gifts for a boost to the ego and a pad
on the back. We all recognize that as long-term thinking. The stuff of a
leader. And bless him for it, he shall be. For that I take my hat off, give
myself a slight pad on the back and proclaim out loud my absolute pride in his
whole essence and being. This one achievement of reaching a goal set out at the
age of 5 when he discovered his focus to become a black belt is but a small
part of him at the now seasoned age of 8.6. There is so much more to this
Little Man. But that's the homework he's assigned me so that's the subject of
my words...

And here I must stop as per his request.
I read it to him just before bed tonight. It took him but a second to decide
that the introduction to this point is for all your eyes. The letter I
subsequently wrote him as my "homework" from that point, he chose to
keep private for himself. Then he walked up and gave me the kind of hug the
moment required. What else can I say, that kid is smarter than I'll ever be.